Club Crests
Port Vale has used numerous crests, badges and emblems since its formation. Here is a brief overview of the different designs that the club has adopted throughout its existence.
Early days
In the early days the club took on the Burslem coat of arms as their emblem and this was adopted from around 1878 onwards.
In common with many football clubs at the time, the team wore kit unadorned with a crest or a badge, so this design was rarely used or seen.
1921
The first evidence of a crest being worn on the players’ shirts is from the 1921-22 season when the design was changed to include reference to the Staffordshire knot and the initials PVFC.
At that time the Vale played in white shirts and black shorts and the crest complemented the outfit perfectly.
Strangely they stopped wearing a shirt badge after just one season, but it was always displayed on the front of club programmes.
1929
The first evidence of a crest being worn on the players’ shirts is from the 1929-30 season when the design was changed to include reference to the Staffordshire knot and the initials PVFC.
At that time the Vale played in white shirts and black shorts and the crest complemented the outfit perfectly.
1952
A slightly modified version of the 1921 crest appeared in match programmes during the 1940s but there is, so far, no photographic evidence that this was worn on team shirts until 1952.
The great 1953/54 team that reached the FA Cup semi-final and won the Third Division (North) did not wear badges on their shirts.
1956
In 1956 the Valiants adopted what many fans consider to be the club’s classic crest when they integrated the club colours of black and white into the Burslem crest. The 1956 crest also takes on symbols from other areas of Stoke-on-Trent. The scythe comes from the Tunstall arms, the fretted cross from Audley whilst the two pots symbolise Josiah Wedgwood’s pottery towns of Burslem and Etruria. The crest was also re-adopted by the club in the new millennium when it was used on the back of the shirt of several kits in addition to the then current crest on the front of the shirt.
There was also a red and gold version of this crest in keeping with the original colours of the Burslem coat of arms. This was only used on players’ blazers during the 1950s.
1956
In 1956 the valiants adopted what many fans consider to be the club’s classic crest when they integrated the club colours of black and white into the Burslem crest. The 1956 crest also takes on symbols from other areas of Stoke-on-Trent. The scythe comes from the Tunstall arms, the fretted cross from Audley whilst the two pots symbolise Josiah Wedgwood’s pottery towns of Burslem and Etruria. The crest was also re-adopted by the club in the new millennium when it was used on the back of the shirt of several kits in addition to the then current crest on the front of the shirt.
There was also a red and gold version of this crest in keeping with the original colours of the Burslem coat of arms. This was only used on players’ blazers during the 1950s.
1974
Club crests went out of fashion in the mid to late 1960’s, so it wasn’t until 1974 that a new Port Vale crest was used. Vale were wearing Admiral kit at the time and their white shirts and the style of the “PVFC” design owed a lot to Leeds United’s 1970’s “LUFC” logo. This was used on and off until 1981. The image shows Vale striker Mick Cullerton in a Vale kit featuring the rather minimalistic design.
1978
In 1978, an unusual design crest was adopted. This was intended to reflect the club’s Valiant nickname by incorporating a knight on a rearing horse. Shaped in the form of a letter “V” it also included the club name at the top. This design was only used for a few years before it was replaced in the 1980s.
1978
In 1978, an unusual design crest was adopted. This was intended to reflect the club’s Valiant nickname by incorporating a knight on a rearing horse. Shaped in the form of a letter “V” it also included the club name at the top. This design was only used for a few years before it was replaced in the 1980s.
1982
The new crest introduced in 1982 was the winning design from a competition for local schoolchildren. In the form of a quartered shield, it featured the letters PVFC, a Staffordshire knot, a bottle oven kiln and the Valiants name. It was first used during the successful 1982/1983 promotion season.
1986
In 1986 a completely new crest was designed. This retained the quarters of the previous shield together with a bottle kiln and Staffordshire knot but had the club’s name on a ribbon weaving around the shield. It also included reference to 1876, the club’s official date of foundation, the first Vale crest to do so. The blue introduced into the crest was intended to pay homage to Josiah Wedgwood who started his pottery manufacturing business in Burslem in 1759 making blue Jasperware.
1986
In 1986 a completely new crest was designed. This retained the quarters of the previous shield together with a bottle kiln and Staffordshire knot but had the club’s name on a ribbon weaving around the shield. It also included reference to 1876, the club’s official date of foundation, the first Vale crest to do so. The blue introduced into the crest was intended to pay homage to Josiah Wedgwood who started his pottery manufacturing business in Burslem in 1759 making blue Jasperware.
2013
In 2013, the club’s new owners proposed a crest change and asked fans to help with the design. The proposed crest was largely based on the 1956 design but with the addition of the slogan “For all who have gone before” in order to pay tribute to former players, fans and staff. After feedback from fans, the final design, which was to be used during the 2013-2014 season, dropped the slogan in favour of a Staffordshire knot and added the club’s official date of formation. This is the club’s current crest and was used on team shirts up to and including season 2024/25.
2025
With the 2025/26 season being the club’s 150th since formation, a new crest was designed. This was a one off throwback to the crest used in the mid 1970s
With thanks to One Vale Fan (www.onevalefan.co.uk) and Historical Football Kits (www.historicalkits.co.uk) as sources for the information provided here.